Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Physicians have spoken. The Biden administration should listen.

Ripley Hollister, MD
Policy
November 27, 2020
Share
Tweet
Share

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended life as we know it. Every aspect of our health care system is affected; in particular, our nation’s frontline workers are being stretched like never before. From managing the pandemic long term to physician well-being, social determinants of health (SDOH), and health care reform, the incoming Administration should heed doctors’ warnings to foster a health care system that works for everyone.

With nearly half (49%) of U.S. physicians believing COVID-19 won’t be under control until after June 1, 2021, America is experiencing a prolonged period of uncertainty and turmoil. Physicians live through a historical shift in the way we practice and deliver care to patients. Not only is the delivery of care changing, but those delivering the care are also under more pressure than ever. Now is an opportunity for policymakers to rebuild a system with physicians and our patients in mind.

The announcement of President-elect Biden’s COVID-19 task force is a step in the right direction, but more physicians must be included in this effort. With only two physicians on the thirteen-person task force, there is room for improvement. For the pandemic and beyond, insights from physicians are invaluable. We are on the ground with patients every day. We suffer with them and tirelessly work for better health outcomes. Yet, too many things stand in our way. Not only do regulatory burdens affect how we can care for patients, but we are also struggling ourselves.

Recent data found that nearly 1 in 4 physicians (22%) know a physician who committed suicide, and 58% express feelings of burnout. In addition, 13% of physicians have sought medical attention for mental health problems because of COVID-19’s impact on their practice or employment situation.  Physician wellbeing was a public health crisis long before COVID-19. Now, we see the pandemic exacerbate this issue. Physician burnout rates were at an all-time high prior to the pandemic and have increased significantly over the past eight months.

One longtime driver of physician burnout is the inability to account for SDOH, the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. This includes factors like socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood, physical environment, employment, nutrition/food security, access to health care, and social support networks, all of which have a major influence on individuals’ health and, therefore, health care costs in America. We see this come to light in daily practice. In fact,  88% of physicians said their patients had a serious health problem linked to poverty or other social conditions, and the pandemic has only worsened this issue. This problem will manifest itself in future consequences, with 34% of physicians strongly agreeing that SDOH will drive demand for health care services in 2021.

Physicians also agree on policy steps to ensure access to high-quality, cost-efficient care for all. Namely, 89% want to streamline prior authorization for medical services and prescriptions. Physicians agree that simplifying access to mental health services and providing insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 are important steps. These combined won’t fix our health care system, but it’s a start. When looking to the future, physicians also call for more affordable health insurance for patients and increasing the number of physician leaders.

As an additional measure to ensure better care, America’s physicians have also prescribed a hybrid health care system. When asked to rank their preferences for the U.S. health care system’s future direction, physicians ranked a two-tiered system featuring a single-payer option plus private pay as the best direction.

Despite the immense amount of data out there, physician insights are not being incorporated into national health care conversations. Our current system is directed by policymakers and business executives instead of physicians. As the foundation of health care, physicians know what is best for our system and the patients we serve. These insights must be included in any health care reform discussion and if we hope to improve access to quality care.

As the next Administration prepares for the work ahead, physicians are here to help.

Ripley Hollister is a family physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

I am a critical care physician. These are the patients in the ICU.

November 27, 2020 Kevin 1
…
Next

Essential tips for the physician-entrepreneur [PODCAST]

November 27, 2020 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
I am a critical care physician. These are the patients in the ICU.
Next Post >
Essential tips for the physician-entrepreneur [PODCAST]

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Ripley Hollister, MD

  • How drivers of health screenings led to immediate patient impact and practice sustainability

    Ripley Hollister, MD

Related Posts

  • Are patients using social media to attack physicians?

    David R. Stukus, MD
  • The risk physicians take when going on social media

    Anonymous
  • Beware of pseudoscience: The desperate need for physicians on social media

    Valerie A. Jones, MD
  • When physicians are cyberbullied: an interview with ZDoggMD

    Monique Tello, MD
  • Surprising and unlikely rewards of social media engagement by physicians

    Lisa Chan, MD
  • Physicians who don’t play the social media game may be left behind

    Xrayvsn, MD

More in Policy

  • How locum tenens work helps physicians and APPs reclaim control

    Brian Sutter
  • Why Medicaid cuts should alarm every doctor

    Ilan Shapiro, MD
  • Why physician voices matter in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ laws

    BJ Ferguson
  • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

    Carlin Lockwood
  • What Adam Smith would say about America’s for-profit health care

    M. Bennet Broner, PhD
  • The lab behind the lens: Equity begins with diagnosis

    Michael Misialek, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why removing fluoride from water is a public health disaster

      Steven J. Katz, DDS | Conditions
    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Why male fertility needs to be part of every health conversation

      Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian | Conditions
    • How home-based AI can reduce health inequities in underserved communities [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Inside human trafficking: a guide to recognizing and preventing it [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Graduating from medical school without family: a story of strength and survival

      Anonymous | Education
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • My journey from misdiagnosis to living fully with APBD

      Jeff Cooper | Conditions
    • Addressing the physician shortage: How AI can help, not replace

      Amelia Mercado | Tech
    • Why does rifaximin cost 95 percent more in the U.S. than in Asia?

      Jai Kumar, MD, Brian Nohomovich, DO, PhD and Leonid Shamban, DO | Meds
  • Recent Posts

    • How home-based AI can reduce health inequities in underserved communities [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Adriana Smith’s story: a medical tragedy under heartbeat laws

      Nicole M. King, MD | Physician
    • What if medicine had an exit interview?

      Lynn McComas, DNP, ANP-C | Conditions
    • Why U.S. health care pricing is so confusing—and how to fix it

      Ashish Mandavia, MD | Physician
    • From survival to sovereignty: What 35 years in the ER taught me about identity, mortality, and redemption

      Kenneth Ro, MD | Physician
    • When doctors forget how to examine: the danger of lost clinical skills

      Mike Stillman, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 3 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why removing fluoride from water is a public health disaster

      Steven J. Katz, DDS | Conditions
    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Why male fertility needs to be part of every health conversation

      Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian | Conditions
    • How home-based AI can reduce health inequities in underserved communities [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Inside human trafficking: a guide to recognizing and preventing it [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Graduating from medical school without family: a story of strength and survival

      Anonymous | Education
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • My journey from misdiagnosis to living fully with APBD

      Jeff Cooper | Conditions
    • Addressing the physician shortage: How AI can help, not replace

      Amelia Mercado | Tech
    • Why does rifaximin cost 95 percent more in the U.S. than in Asia?

      Jai Kumar, MD, Brian Nohomovich, DO, PhD and Leonid Shamban, DO | Meds
  • Recent Posts

    • How home-based AI can reduce health inequities in underserved communities [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Adriana Smith’s story: a medical tragedy under heartbeat laws

      Nicole M. King, MD | Physician
    • What if medicine had an exit interview?

      Lynn McComas, DNP, ANP-C | Conditions
    • Why U.S. health care pricing is so confusing—and how to fix it

      Ashish Mandavia, MD | Physician
    • From survival to sovereignty: What 35 years in the ER taught me about identity, mortality, and redemption

      Kenneth Ro, MD | Physician
    • When doctors forget how to examine: the danger of lost clinical skills

      Mike Stillman, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Physicians have spoken. The Biden administration should listen.
3 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...